Process for treating fabrics



Oct. 9, 1928.

T. A. BRYSON ET AL PROCESS FOR TREATING FABRICS Filed Deo. l2, 1924 V2Sheets-Sheet 1 A+ JW gwumtou Sbtozmg Oct. 9, 1928,

T. A. BRYsoN ETl AL PROESS FOR TREATING FABRICS 2 snets-sneet Filed peo.12, 1924 Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TAN DY A. BRYSON AND-JOHN. J MCKEON, OF TROY, NEW, YORK, ASSIGNIORS, BYMESN ASSIGNMENTS,. TO GENERAL LAUNDRY MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PHILA-DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE;

PROCESS FOB TREATINGYFABRICS. l

Original application led January 18, 1924, Serial No. 686,986. Dividedand this application led December 12, 1924.

The invention relates to a novel and useful process for treatingfabrics, forinstance, dyeing stock, yarn, piecegoods, and othermaterials, for impregnating, carbOniZing, washing, stripping, bleaching,etc., and discloses a novel and useful mechanism adapted for'fuse incarrying out the process.

The invention has for its object to 'provide a novel and useful processfor treating fabrics and other materials, by which, for example,vtheymay be dyed easily, rapidly and uniformly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part ,will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attainedV bymeans of the instrumentalities and comb? nations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel steps and processes, andimprovements herein shown anddescribed.

This application is a division of our copending application Ser. No.686,986, filed Jan. 18, 1924.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and const'tuting a parthereof, illustrate a mechanism embodying the mechanical parts or aspectsof the invention, and adapted for use in practicing the process of theinvention and in connection with the accompanying description, thedrawings serve to illustrate the pnnciples of the invention.

Of the drawings Y Fig. l is an elevation yof a centrifugal mechanismembodying the mechanical features of the invention and adapted to beadvantageously used in carrying outY the process; and

FigsfQ and 3 are top plans corresponding to Fig. l. taken also partly insection on line .2-2 of Fig. l, Fig. 3 illustrating the basket with thecover removed.

The invention is directed to a novel procfor treating fabrics and othermaterials,

such as stock,`yarn, and piece goods. One desirable application of theprocess is to dyeing, whereby the goods are very easily, ra idly,uniformly and otherwise excellent y dyed and with a minimum of handlingof goods or materials, and other labor; and also to a mechanism adaptedfor use in carrying Out the process,

Serial No. 755,398.

erted on the liquid ydue to the rotation of the basket.

In the preferred manner of effecting this 'relatively slowly, with thebasket submerged 1n the wetting down water, the dye liquor, or the Washwater, although such liquid may be otherwise supplied. When suchsubmergence is practiced, the liquid is contained in a tank, and thetank is preferably partially or entirely closed. The basket haspreferably perforatecylindrical walls and an open top, and vanescarriedeither on the basket walls or tank walls are preferabl utilizedto force the water or other liqui in at the .top or center of therotating basket.

The invention also includes the novel' and advantageous step of treatingthe liquid while it is centrifugally acting on the fabric, or the like,such as boiling the dye liquor during one or more of the operations justdescribed, and particularly during the concomitant centrifugal actionand forcing of the dye liquor through the material from the center' ofthe basket outwardly.

In practice, and referring cxemplarily to fabric dyeing, preferably thedye liquor is gradually brought up to boiling and maintained there aslong as desired during the dyeing operation. This heating and boiling isconveniently done by blowing steam atI any suitable point or place intothe dye liquor, although otherways for effecting this may be utilized,such as steam pipes within the tank, heating means below the tank, orother means. `Other steps may be practiced during the operation justdescribed, such as the addition of mordants, liners, or other steps,dependent upon the nature or requirements of the particular dyeingoperation.

It is also preferable in practice that the dye liquor be drawn 0Ecompletely beforethe subsequent washing of the dyed niaterials, insteadof the washing being in its first-stages a merc diluting of the dyeliquor, and a gradual progression therefrom. Pref.

step, the materials in the basket are rotated vided.

erablly also the basket is speeded up after the drainingfofthe dyeliquor, thereby substantiallypcompletely throwing olf the dye liquor.

Thereafter' the Wash Water is applied and circulated centrifugallyythrough the fabric or other material. Usually, most conveniently, thetank is filled with wash. Water', 1n such 'case subinerging the basket,and the Water may be heated or boiled as desired. If desired, it may besatisfactory and ellicient to flow the Water, or other fluid, into thecentrifugal by a hose or otherwise. On completion of thelwasliing, theWash Water is drawn off .from the tank, and the basket spun rapidly t9dry the material.

lt will be understood that the foregoing general description of theprocess, as well as the following "detailed description thereof, and ofthe mechanism or apparatus used preferably in carrying it out, aremerely eX- planatory and exemplary, but are not restrictive of theinvention,

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of theinvention, as applied 'to dyeing, including the mechanism or appa atusfeatures thereof, a tank l ltorthe various liquids, such as thewettingdown water, the dye liquid, and the Wash water is provided, thistank being preferably cylindrical in form and of sutlicient diameter toleave a substantial space, proportioned for the practicalreouiren'ients, between the cylindrical tank wall and that of theenclosed basket.

Preferably av completely closed tank is eniployed, although an open tankor a partially closed tank is suliicient andsatisfactory in someinstances. Acc to the tank in such casc, is preferably provided by anannularly shaped flat lid 2 adapted to lit about the basket shaft and toclose the circular opening in the flat top ui of the tank. A

The form of basket provided is preferably of the suspended type. astliisavoills the presence of liearingrijs and driving parts within thetank and its contained liquids. As ein bodied, a frame having uprightsll. and l2 and a horizontal lop cross piece l' is pro 'l`he basket shaltle is suspended in a bearing within a housing l5, supported oncross-piece lil, within which also is a pulley drive for the shaft, thedetailed construction of these parts being of standard or other suitableform. The driving means may be av belt lt running' over a` belt pulley17, or anv other suitable form of drive.

t the bottom' end of shaft 14s, and Suspended thereon to rotatetherewith, is a basket 2l, having cylindrical, perforate side -walls 22.and' an. imperforate bottoni 2B. 'l`l1e hub 2a; islitted on to thetapered bottoni end 25 of shaft lll, aud held in place by a nut 2h, orother suitable 'la ening means. basket is' preferably provided also withllt) teef/,rae

a top ring, consisting of an annular inwardly directed or projectingplate 29 fastened to the top edge of the cylindrical side Wall 22, andhaving a central opening'tl, through which the materials are inserted'4into and Withdrawn. from the basket, and through. which also the'variousliquids are forced under pressure during the rotation of the basket. Thebasket-is preferably constructed so that there are no pockets. recessesor obstructions thcrewithin. which would hold any of the material out ofthe natural path of the propelled currents of the dye liquor and otherliquids employed in the process.

Further means are preferably provided for creating or increasing theenforced circulation of the various liquids in the manner described. lnthe preferred form thereof,A

helically-disposed vanes 32 are provided, preferably fixed to the innerwall of the tank, and also preferably extending from the bottom to thetop thereof, and inclined in the direction of rotation of the basket,although they may be inclined, if desired, in the opposite direction.Preferably also vaines 33 extend inwardly along the underside of the topof the tank or casing from vthe upper ends of the vanes to or toward theopening in the top of the basket.

ltleans are also provided for retaining certain kinds of *Y materialsWithin the basket during the various operations or steps, loose woolbeing an example of such materials. F or this purpose, there is provideda circular or conical Wire mesh lid or screen 34,-, the outer circularrim of which tits over the edges of the opening 3() in the top ring 29of the basket, and is held in place by suitable means such as clampingdevices 35, the screen having a central opening` 36, fitting about thebasket shaft.

Means are provided by the invention for admitting liquids to the tankand for Withdrawing them therefrom, and also for heatn ing the liquidsin the: tank during the various operations or steps. As embodied, thisis ellected through a port at the central bottom part of the tank. Suchan opening .t1 is provided at the center of the bottom 42 of the tank,this opening eon'ununicating Withy a chamber lil, which is provided witha drain valve fill, which discharges into any suitable piping in thespare du beneath the machine.

'lhe embodied forni of means for introducing' lhe wetting-down water,vthe dye liquid. the wash water or other fluids or materials into thetank, comprises a pipe 47 communicating with the port 4l andfprovidedwith any suitable l'orin of supply means, shown herein as a funnel 18, avalve being provided in the pipe 47 below the funnel.

'llie embodied l'orm of mean-s for heating or boiling the liquid withinthe tank comprises a steam pipe .5l conmiunicating into lll) (itl

the pipe47 at 52 and provided with a suitable valve 53.

In the preferred form of carrying out the process in connection withdyeing and the illustrated apparatus, the material, say for examplepiece goods, is laid intol the basket in any desired form, the basketbeing slowly rotated during .this operation, desired. After the materialis in position in the basket, if it is loose stock', such as Wool forexample, the screen 34 is fitted into position to hold the` materialWithfinf the. basket so that it will not be displaced by the circulationof the liquid. The lid 2 is then fixed in position upon the tank.

The tank is filled Wit-h water, the basketI being rotated at slow speed,and by means of the pipe connection, steam is blown into the Water,bringing it to the desired temperature in case it is desired to heat thewetting-.down Water,l as is usually done. During the rotation of thesubmerged basket* in the closed tank, the Water Will be forced into thetop and center of the basket and will be forced out through theperforate Walls of ithe basket thereby insuring rapid, thorough anduniform wetting-down of the material.

After the goods are thoroughly wetteddown, dye stuff properly mixed withWater is let into the tank through the piping system. The submergedbasket is rotated slowly to cause ydistribution and even im; pregnationof the dye liquor. The dye li nor is forced throuvh the materials inthesu merged, rotating 7basket .in the manner already described for thewetting-down water, and a rapid, thorough and uniform dyeing of thematerial is thus effected.

The n temperature of the dye liquor ,is gradually raised, in the presentembodiment `by blowing in steam, and is usually raised to the boilingpoint. The boiling'is then continued during the centrifugal action, andthe forcing of the dye liquor continuously through the material through'the coopera. tion of the rotating basket and the vanes upon the tankwalls. Any other agents orl materials may be added to the dye liquor asdesired or required for the particular dyeing operation, luntil thedyeing process is complete l. A,

After the completion of this operation, the dye liquor is drawn ofi`through the opening of the valve 44. and the rotation of the basketfispreferably accelerated to high speed to remove the remainder of the d veliquor from; the material.

Thereafter. the. valve 44 is closed and the tank is'filled, through thepiping system with the Washwater, andthe wash water may be heated orboiled to any desired degree and for any desired 'time during theWashing operation. Duringythis operation also, the

water is forced under pressure through 4the for promoting oraccelerating chemical reactions, when applied asa mixing process, byeffecting intimate and thorough intermixture of the materials.

Itwill be understood that changes may The process is herein debe madelin the steps or sequence'o/f steps of the process, or in theconstruction of the apparatus or mechanism, Within the scopel of theaccompanying claims, Without departing from the principles of theinvention and without sacrificingits chief advantages.

lVha-t We claim is l. The process of dyeing Vfabric which comprisesrotating the fabric in a centrifugal basket in Water, to Wet down thefabric, introducing the dyeing li uid and rotating the basket to effectdistribution and uniform impregnation of the dyethrough the fabric,gradually raising the temperature of the vd e liquor during said dyeingoperation, su sequently continuing the heating for a desired period,removing the dye liquor, rotating the basket at a highers eed to removethe excess liquor from the fa ric.

surrounding the basket with Wash vvgater and l A rotating the basket toeffect thorough penetration yand distribution of the Wash water,

drawingoffthe wash water, and rotatingthe basket 'relatively rapidly todry the fabric.

. 2; The process of dyeing fabric -which comprises Vrota-ting the fabricin a centrifugal basket in Water, to wet down the fabric, heating-thevvaterl during the wetting' down, -introducing the dyeing liquid androtating theubasket-fto effect distribution and uniformfimpnegna'tion ofthe dye through the fabric, gradually raising the temperature of the dyeliquor durin said dyeing operation, removing the dye liquor, rotating"the basket at ahigher speed to remove theexcess liquor from the fabric,surrounding the basket with. Wash Water'and rotating the basket toeffect thorough penetration and distriLv uniform impregnation of the dyethrough lli) the fabric, gradually raising the temperature of the dyeliquor during said dyeing operation, removing the dye liquor, rotatingthe basket at higher speed to remove the excess liquor from the fabric,surrounding the basket with wash water and rotating the basket to effectthorough penetration and distribution of the wash water, and rotatingthe basket relatively rapidly to dry the fabric. i

fi, The process of dyeing fabric which comprises slowly rotating thefabric in a centrifugal basket in water, to wet down the fabric,introducing the dyeing, liquid and slowly rotating the ybasket to elfectdistribution and uniform impregnation of the dye through the fabric,removing the dye liquor, rotating the basket at a higher Aspeed toremove the excess liquor from the fabric,.

surrounding the basket with wash water and slowly rotating the basket toeffect thorough penetration and distribution of the wash water, anddrawing off the wash water.

5. rlihe process of impregnating materials with dye or the like whichconsists in rotating the materials' at one angular velocity in acentrifugal basket in water' to wetdown the fabric, introducing thedyeing liquid while continuing to rotatel the basket at substantiallythe same velocity to effect uniform distribution and impregnation of thedye through the materials, removing the dye liquor from the basket androtating' the basket at a different velocity to remove .the excessliquor from the materials.

6. Theiprocess of impregnatiiig materials with dye or the like whichconsists in rotating the materials at a relatively low angular velocityin a centrifugal. basket` in water to wet down the fabric, introducingthe dyeing liquid while continuingrto rotate the basket, atsubstantially the same velocity to effect uniform distribution andimpregnation of the dye through the materials, ren moving the dye liquorfrom the basket and rotating the basket at a relatively higher velocityto remove the excess liquor from the materials. y

7. The process of impregnating materials with dye or the like whichconsists in rotating the materials at a relatively low angular velocityin a' centrifugal basket in Water to.

with dye or the like which consists in rotating'the Imaterials in acentrifugal basket at a relatively low angular velocity, wetting downthe materials with Water while gradually raising vthe temperature of thewater, and introducing dye liquor into the basket whileI the basket isrotating to thoroughly and uniformly impregnato the materials with thedye.,

' 9. The process of impregnatingmaterials with dye or the like whichconsists in rotating the materials in a centrifugal basket at arelatively low angular velocity, successively introducing water and dye-liquor `into the basket during the rotation, accelerating the rotationof the basket to eliminate excess dye liquorfrom the materials, de-

celerating thebasket and centrifugally washing the materials with Washwater,

and accelerating the basket to drive the re- .maining wash water fromthe materials.

10. The process of impregnating materials with dye or the like whichcomprises the steps of rotating the materials in a centrifugal basket`with water to preliminarily wet down the materials and graduallyheating the water during the wetting down.

11. The process of iinpregnating materials with dye or the like whichcomprises the steps of rotating the materials in a centrifugal basketwith water to preliminary Wet down the materials and gradually heatingthe water to thev boiling point during the wetting down.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

- TANDY A. BRYSON.

JOHN J. MCKEON.

